Nathan Magyar, raises the 2009 Grand National Dynasty Trophy with Susan by his side!!!!
SUSAN USHER Susan Usher is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and has enjoyed a career surrounded by children. She has been a group home worker, resident manager and administrator of a family homeless shelter in the metro Detroit area. She continued her service career by working for Gymstreet USA and the March of Dimes. She has volunteered with the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, Special Olympics, Ele's Place, and the Jr.Miss Scholarship program. Her twirling career started at the age of 4 in a baton corps similar to the Twirlettes. She moved on to be a competitive twirler and team member. Her coaches include, Marlene Rahe, Cindy Althaus, Fred Miller and Cheryl Wimberly. Her career continued, as she became a member of the then well-known Findlay High School majorettes. (Findlay, Ohio) This majorette line was quite unique as it was comprised of all advanced twirlers, trained all year long, spent on average 15 hours week practicing, competed as a dance twirl , was awarded DMA/USTA State championships, 3rd place at DMA Nationals, and won the Drill Team USA National Majorette line Championship in Los Angeles, CA. In California, where they performed at the L.A. Sports arena in front of 10,000 fans. In Susan's solo career she won USTA/DMA State solo, 2-baton, & 3-baton titles., along with winning the DMA National 2-baton title and 2nd place at NBTA nationals. From High School Susan went on to be the Feature Twirler at Eastern Michigan University that proved to be the most rewarding experience of her career. She left Eastern in 1990 and was awarded the Harold Sponberg Award for the Outstanding Senior Marching Band Member. After college, Susan twirled at Detroit Lions Football games and started teaching in Michigan. This was easy since Susan had been teaching in Ohio since the age of 14 , taught many camps, and traveled to several high schools to work with their majorettes. Her experience was extensive due to her high school days and extends to: flags, rifles, dance lines, drill teams, majorette lines and competitive twirlers. Susan taught the Chelsea Baton Corps for 7 years and the Saline Twirlettes since 1992. She currently is a certified DMA / NBTA teacher/judge. She has judged many local contests, state contests, and at TwirlMania. Susan has worked with college twirlers that attended Univ. of Michigan, Bowling Green, Univ. of Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, MSU, Penn State, West Virginia, Miami University, Grand Valley and Purdue University. In 2009 , she had two students take the field at her former position at EMU, Bethany Lawson and Jessica Potter. Susan returned to the alumni band as a promise to Bethany. Other collegiate twirlers were Nathan Magyar at Univ. of Michigan, Donovan Sarr at West Virginia and Mary Ciotta as a Purdue Boilerette.
Susan is extremely proud of the Twirlettes 8- national team titles , one National Majorette championship and the 2009 Senior Halftime Grand National title as well as being awarded the Beth A. Wilson Artistic Award for Senior and Junior Halftime teams. ( 2nd consecutive year) The past 17 years of teaching in Saline has been culminated with this win. Twelve outstanding twirlers dedicated themselves one last time to reach this goal after being in the top 5 for five years and they accomplished their goal. It was the most rewarding experience for Susan to hear their name being announced , congratulating parents in the stands, and greeting her twirlers on the floor. The senior members of the team; Nathan Magyar, Stacey Girbach, Mary Ciotta, and Kelsey Lamkin accepted the award. Seeing their emotions and tears proved to Susan that you can pass on this passion for twirling and life skills that last a lifetime.
The Twirlettes made headlines in 2005 at they performed at the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Halftime with Mariah Carey, alongside twirling friends , Twirl-M;s. Fox 2 News Morning show featured the Twirlettes in July of 2008 as their special feature called "Zip Trips" The team twirled for local TV, were part of the audience, and 2008 Senior Mary Ciotta was interviewed live about the national team. The Twirlettes have also been invited for the past 6 years to the University of Michigan for basketball hafltime entertainment. Eastern Michigan football, volleyball and basketball performances have also been on the Twirlettes tour for many years.
The Saline Twirlettes perform at many local parades and festivals throughout the year. Susan now has dedicated her career to teaching youth the sport of baton twirling while she also works home care and as a substitue teacher in Washtenaw County. She has one son, 8-year old Austin who is an avid OSU BUCKEYE fan ,plays football, soccer, baseball, and basketball. Austin will be starting his football career in the fall of 2009 and has been waiting his whole life to start playing. Her husband Jeff is very patient as Susan continues her passion for Twirlng while he enjoys ALL SPORTS, going to football games, his family, and GOLF. The Usher family makes their home in Ypsilanti.
The long Thursday modeling night!
Missy Townsend, Guest Twirlette Instructor
Coach Amie poses with Adv. Rookie Students
AMIE BRANCH
Amie Branch graduated from ChelseaHigh School in 1995. Amie was the Chelsea Marching Band Feature Twirler for three years. She was a competitive twirler for 5 years, and earned titles such as Miss Holiday and Miss Pumpkin Patch. She also earned titles of Michigan State Solo and Strut Champion and placed in the top ten at Nationals for modeling and strut. Amie also competed in Beauty Pageants and was crowned Chelsea Community Fair Queen in 1993. Amie has been the assistant coach of the Chelsea Baton Corps and is currently coaching pom-pons, modeling and baton for the Saline Twirlettes for the past 10 years. Amie resided in Grass Lake with her husband Jeff and 5 year old daughter Lizzie. Lizzie is a rookie in the Saline Twirlettes and 3rd generation twirler.
